Selma Clara Beiswenger was born on October 26, 1909 at home in Smiley Township, Pennington County, MN, the daughter of Carl and Clara (Leibert) Beiswenger. She was baptized on February 27, 1910 at St. John Lutheran Church in Thief River Falls by Reverend Seltz and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church in 1923. She attended Hummer Elementary School in Smiley Township and graduated from the Agriculture College in Crookston, MN in 1928. She worked two years in Detroit at Woolwent from 1934 to 1936. Selma also attended and graduated from Brady and Rogers Beauty School in Minneapolis, MN in 1937 and worked at different Beauty Shops on Lake Street in Minneapolis, including Ednas Beauty Shop.

On November 26, 1942 Selma was united in marriage to Joseph Knutson at St. John Parsonage. Selma became a Farmers Wife until 1950 when the couple moved to Golden Valley, MN. While in Golden Valley they bought a Truck Farm of two acres and also built a circle of houses off Lilac Drive. They moved back to Thief River Falls in 1960. Joe passed away in 1968.

She enjoyed African Violets and had every color. She had 28 colors at one time and liked to give them away to her friends.

Selma is survived by nieces and nephews: Violet Powers, Ernest Ristau, Doloris Mickelson, Shirley LaCoursiere, Phyllis Cederberg, Zona Pearson, Gwen Paton, Ronald Beiswenger, Ruth Riedl, Norma Marien and Judy Haack.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe; her parents; four brothers: Bruno, Theodore, Carl and Herman; and one sister, Augusta Ristau.